Aug 11, 2025, 07:37

The Mark Foundation Drug Discovery Award

Accelerates promising academic cancer targets into preclinical development. Provides up to USD 1,000,000 over 12–36 months plus guidance from seasoned biopharma R&D experts to advance post-target validation through early lead development toward clear value-inflection milestones.

Eligibility Criteria:

Nonprofit research institutions worldwide (for-profits ineligible).
PI must hold an MD/PhD (or equivalent) and be an independent investigator; one LOI as PI (no limit as co-investigator).
Eligible modalities: large molecules/biologics; small molecules (incl. heterobifunctionals); peptides; conjugates (ADC, radioconjugates); nucleic acids (ASO, RNA).
Eligible stages: lead discovery; lead optimization.
Ineligible topics: drug delivery technologies/optimizations, drug repurposing, IND-enabling studies, cell/gene/viral therapies, vaccines.

Funding Details:

Up to USD 1,000,000 total for 12–36 months; indirect costs ≤10% of direct costs.
Work may be performed at approved CROs.
Plan must drive to a defined milestone (e.g., potent/selective lead or in vivo efficacy).
Funded teams receive ongoing input from drug discovery consultants (chemistry, biology, DMPK, etc.).

Deadline:

2025 Call for Proposals: LOI portal opens September 18, 2025; LOI deadline November 11, 2025; invitations for full applications March 2026; anticipated award start September 2026.

Where to Go for Further Information:

Submit a 2-page Project Concept Letter (PDF) via The Mark Foundation grants portal: title; target and validation; lead identification summary (if optimization); competitive landscape; research plan; unmet need/impact.
Full applications by invitation only; revenue-sharing terms apply; funded teams meet regularly with Mark Foundation advisors and consultants.
More information.

ADC biologics cancer CRO Drug Discovery Award lead optimization LOI nucleic acids OncoDaily Oncology preclinical development research funding Small molecules The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research Translational Oncology

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